Unit heater



March 14, 1933. J, T. soRENsEN UNIT HEATER Filed Oct. 14, 1931 a @Se Patented Mar. 14, 1933 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE JOHN T. SOREN SEN, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO ZENITH HEATER COMPANY, CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS f UNIT HEATER Application led October 14, 1931. Serial No. 568,781.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in the structure of unit heaters, and particularly the type of unit heaters adapted for heating the interior of motor vehicles.

The main objects of this invention are to provide an improved one-piece sheet metal shell or casing for the heater core and tanks; to provide a heater shell of this kind capable of being tightly drawn around the heater core and tanks to securely hold the same by frict-ion; to provide a heater shell having an imroved arrangement of simple sheet metal bracket arms for mounting the heater on a wall; to provide a unit heater having an improved air deiector capable of rapid and easy angular adjustment; and to provide an improved construction and arrangement of parts of such heaters with a view to simplifying and reducing the cost thereof.

A specific embodiment of this invention 1s shown in the accompanying drawing in which:

Figure l is a front elevation, the dotted portion showing the air deiiector adjusted to one of its angular positions.

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the same showing the improved arrangement of bracket arms and air delector construction, a portion of the heater casing being broken away.

Fig. 3 is a rear elevation of the same showing the arrangement of bracket arms and motor support, as well as the method of locking the casing shell to rictionally hold the heater core.

Fig. 4 is a perspective view showing the structure of the heater casing and bracket arms'. The drive cleat for locking the heater shell is shown detached at the bottom of the vlew.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged sectional detail showing a means for mounting the deflector on the radiator core.

As shown in the drawing, the improved heater structure comprises a one-piece encasing shell or enclosure band 1, which is formed to it the contour of the heater tanks and core 2, and is provided with a turn-back edge 3 at each of vits ends to receive a drive cleat or locking device 4. The shell 1 is also provided with a flange 5 on each vertical side portion, to which ilange the front plate or casing 6 is secured.

Bracket arms 7 are rigidly secured to the Vertical sides of the heater shell 1 in staggered relationship, and are preferably fastened by means of spot welding 8 and riveting 8, the spot welding 8 being done at the forward end of the heater casing in order to provide a smooth interior, offering no obstruction to the heater core when it is being slipped into position. The bracket arms 7 are each provided with a bolting portion or pad 9, in the form of a flange bent in at right angles to the bracket arms A motor supporting bracket 10 is secured to each of the arms 7, bridging the space therebetween to supporta motor 11 and fan 12, the motor 11 being held to the motor bracket 10, in a central position relative to the rear face of the heater core 2, by means of a strap 13.

The heater core 2 is provided with an air vent 14 projecting through the heater shell at 15, and a heating medium inlet 16 and' an outlet 1i. rlhe heating medium inlet and outlet tubes extend rearwardly for connection to the source of heating medium supply, and* the entire weight of the heater structure iscarried by the staggered bracket arms 7, avoiding any strain upon the inlet and outlet pipes by vibration of the unit when` mounted in a vehicle.

The heater structure is finished ed by means of a front or face plate 6, which is bolted to the flanges 5 of the heater shell 1. The plate 6 is preferably an aluminum casting formed to provide a frame around the front face of the core 2 and the heater shell 1.

The improved air deilector 18, as shown, comprises two sheet metal bars, one of which is longer than the other and each of which has its end portions bent so that they lie in parallel planes angularly disposed relative to the plane of the body portion of the sheet metal bars. The sheet metal bars are secured together so that the turned-up ends are equally spaced from each other and lie in parallel planes, and delector lvanes 19 are secured to each of the turned-up ends. The 100 a bolt 21 which is provided with a shoulder 22 above the threaded portion. However, before the deflector 18 is attached to the core,

a com ressible washer 23 preferably made` of rub r or some such resilient material, is 0slip d over the projecting portion ofthe sturi)e20 in order to provide a backin for the deflector. The washer 23' is m e thick enough so tliat when the bolt 21 is screwed into the stud 20 until the stud is engaged by the vshoulder 22 it will be substantially compressed and provide a frictional engagement for the bars of the deilector 18. It will be understood that the washer 23 will be wide enough to provide a substantial bearing on the face of the core 2, so that the washer will not be cut by any sharp edges onthe core tubes or fins.

Angular adjustment of the deector 18 is accomplished by merely turning the deflec-` tor to the desired position by hand. It is not necessary to loosen the bolt 21 for this operation because the only friction -to be overcome when turning the deilector. is that o'ered -by the washer 23, which friction, however, is sucient to prevent the deflector from turning of its own accord or because of vibration of the heater unit to which. it is attached. They bolt 21,is"secured .against turning. duringthe adjustment Vof the de tlector by means of the tight locking engagement of the-shoulder22 against the end of the stud 20.

The -heater shell or casing 1 is preferably formed from a single sheet metal band cut to a width sucient to extend from the front face ofthe core 2 to the forward end of the motor 11-so that, when the core and its tanks are assembled in the formed shell, anenclosed space will be provided between the rear face of the core 2 and the motor 11 snicent to completely house or shroud thel fan 12 mounted on the forward endl of the motor.

The fan shroud not only protects the fan blades and eliminates the danger of the blades' catching on the clothing of, or injuring, persons-seated near the heater, but also serves to direct the stream of air handled by the' fan so that it will all pass through the heater and not be deflected sideways by the resistance offered by the core.

In assembling the unit heater, the heater shell 1, with the brackets 7 and 10 mounted thereon, is slipped over the heater core and tanks 2, and then drawn ti htly around the core and locked by means o the drive cleat 4.1,

., ly reduced la which is carried by and embraces the turned back ed ls 3 at the ends of the shell 1.

, The4 ront plate 6 is then bolted to the flanges 5 of the shell 1, and the fan and motor are mounted on the bracket. 10, thus completing the assembl of the heater with the exception of the eilector 18, which is secured to the stud' 20 by means of the bolt 21. It is readily apparent* that a principal advanta ofthe improved heater structure lies in t e easy and rapid manner with which it is assembled.

The one-.piece structure of the heater shell 1, which istightened around the core and i. The two bracket arms 7 are fastened to the heater shell 1 in .vertically staggered relation to each other, in order that the heater as' sembly will be securely supported against vertical as well as horizontal vibration without.

the use of extra-wide and costly bracket arms.

Unit heater structures embodying my herei in described invention have the further ad-v vantage of bein relatively light in weighty due to the fact t 'at a considerable amount of the metal usually employed for such structures has been eliminated.

- My improved heater casing is made of relatively light gauge sheet metal, instead of the vusual casting or heavy stamped metal casing that has heretofore been employed, and this not only provides a structure of less weight but also materially reduces the cost of manufacture, which is of highly competitive fie Although but one specific embodiment of this invention has been herein shown and described, it will be understood that 'certain details of the construction shown may be altered or omitted without departin from the spirit of this invention( as delined y the following claims.

I claim:

1. A device of the class described comprising a radiator core, a motor, a fan, said fan being mounted adjacent one face of said core, a-sheet metal shell'com Vrisinga band tensionally surrounding sai core, said band being substantially wider than the thickness of said core and extending beyond said core`to shroud said fan and means securing the adjoining ends of said shell.

2. In a device of the class described com aos great importance in a prising a radiator core, a motor, a fan, a shell laterally surrounding said core, backwardly extending bracket arms secured to the sides of said shell in vertically staggered relation to each other, and means on said arms to support said motor and fan.

3. In a device of the class described comJ prising a radiator core, a motor, a fan, a onepiece sheet metal shell laterally surrounding said core, means securing the adjoining ends of said shell, a frame plate secured to said shell, a backwardly extendin sheet metal bracket arm secured on each si e of said shell and having one end bent at right angles to provide means to fasten said bracket arm to a support, said armsv being disposed on said shell in staggered relation to each other, and means on said arms to support said motor and fan. r

4. Ina device of the class described com- I prising aradiator core, amotor, a fan, a onehaving a plurality of fixed vanes transversely attached thereto, said vanes being secured to one face ,of said bar and inclined forwardly therefrom. a

9. A device of the class described comprising a radiator core, a threaded stud mounted at the front of said core and having a shoulder projecting forwardly from the face thereof, a headed coacting member threaded for enga ement with said stud and having a shoul er adapted to engage the shoulder of said stud, an air deector rotatably mounted on the shoulder of said coacting member, and a yieldable washer disposed over said stud between sad deflector and radiator core and extending beyond the shoulder of said stud to frictionally en age said deflector.`

Si ed at CIxicago in the county of Cook and tateof Illinois this 2nd day ofmOctober `JolEIN T. s oRENsEN.

frame plate secured to said shell, a backwardly extending sheet metal. bracket arm `secured to each side of said shell and having. one end bent at right angles to provide means to fasten v said bracket arm to a support, said arms being disposed on said shell in stag ered relation to each other, and means carrie by said arms to support said motor and fan.

5. A device of the class described comprisy ing a radiator core having a fan mounted adjacent one face thereof and an air deector mounted adjacent the opposite face, said air defiector comprising a pivotall mounted flat elongated bar having a plura ity of spaced relatively narrow vanes transversely attached thereto. v

6. A device of the class described comprising a radiator core having a fan mounted adjacent one face thereof and an air deilector pivotally mounted adjacent the opposite face,

` said air delector comprising an elongated bar having a plurality of fixed vanes attached crosswise thereto, the faces of said vanes being disposed angularly relative to the adjacent face of said bar.

7. A device of the class described comprisi ing a radiator core having a .fan mounted Iadjacent one face thereof, a projecting stud fixed to and centrally disposed on the opposite face of said core, and an air delector pivotally' mounted on said stud comprisingan elongated bar having a plurality of relatively narrow vanes transversely attached. thereto.

8. A device of the class described comprising a radiator core having a fan mounted adjacent one face thereof, a projecting stud fixed to and centrally 'disposed on the-opposite face of said core, and an air deflector pivotally mounted on said stud comprising a liat bar 

